Hatha Yoga

Hatha yoga is a science with practical application in all our lives. It was designed to pave the way for Raja Yoga.

Ha meaning the Sun and Tha the Moon, Hatha Yoga means Light on Yoga. It is explained in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, the copy I have is by Swami Muktibodhananda and is published by the Bihar School of Yoga, and also details some of the key practices, history and science of Hatha Yoga. There are many types of yoga, Hatha Yoga is one, for more information on different types of yoga please visit www.mandalayoga.net/content/different-paths-yoga.

Yoga has been around for several thousand years. Modern scientific studies have been conducted on this ancient and time-tested form of yoga proving that it works, although the best way to prove yoga works is to try it for yourself. We are lucky that books like Yoga Nidra include the results of contemporary scientific research, while Yoga – How and Why it Works refers to research (see book section). Yoga is best taught from teacher to student, not books or videos. In this way the student is guided to explore and prove the effectiveness of the practices for themselves, without missing subtle and important points which can make the difference between success and failure.

Hatha yoga deals with the following areas of practice;

Asana (physical postures and exercise methods)

Shatkarmas (cleansing practices)

Pranayama (breathing, as practise in its own right or to augment other practises)

Meditation (working with the mind and relaxation, including higher states of experience)

As with most forms of yoga, philosophy underpins and ties together whole of the tradition, whilst mythology helps one understand the practice and philosophy. With yoga we see even the philosophy and mythology are practical elements. I like to think of the word hologram – as defined “the intermediate photograph (or photographic record) that contains information for reproducing a three-dimensional image by holography” (see definition, [accessed on 7th March at 1032] ) – because looking at the yoga tradition as the intermediate photograph and the student as the vehicle for reproducing the three-dimensional image,we can apply a process to transform ourselves and reproduce within our lives the three-dimensional image of yoga as a living entity manifest in our lives.

Real Purpose of Hatha Yoga

"Just to improve the physical health is not enough. The mental health must also improve, the nature must change, the personality must change, the psychological and psychic frame work also has to change. You should not merely feel freedom from disease, but freedom from bondage and from vagaries of the mind. Now, the time has come when teachers in every part of the world must understand and transmit the true spirit of hatha yoga. " - Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Swami Muktibodhananda